First IVF cycle

Hi girls,

Im a new member and have commenced my first ICSI cycle. I am due to take my trigger injection tomorrow with OPU on Saturday and ET on Monday. Im both excited and nervous. My ultrasound this morning showed 6 follicles, not sure if thats good or not. The nurse said it wasnt bad.

I only have one ovary as the other was removed in July (I have severe Endo and had a
10cm cyst on my ovary)

I just dont know what to expect with the whole process and am feeling very anxious and stressed. As much as I know stress isnt good for me, I cant seem not to.

My partner is great but since Im the one with the fertility problem he just doesnt quite understand how inadequate I feel as a woman and I feel like the burden of it all is on my shoulders. Friends dont seem to understand either and just say "good luck with it"

Its been a really trying year as Ive had two laparatomies, the first was an emergency so was only a band-aid one and the 2nd had 3 surgeons involved.

I was hoping to get some peoples thoughts on how to cope with a first cycle and what to do to try and eleviate the stress.

Thanks alot,

Tania :D

Hi Tania,

Welcome! Six follies in one ovary is a very good number (I assume 6 good size follies).

Sometimes men are concern but they don't show it. I remember the first time when we found out we had to go down the path of IVF and by the 1st cycle, DH (dear husband) didn't really pay much attention to what was going on. It got me upset and I told him so. He said he was sorry and that he was just so used to me taking charge....even with this.. :doh:

I know first cycle is very scary and daunting but it can also be very exciting. The way I help myself relax is reminding myself that I am one step closer to getting that BFP (big fat positive). I hope when you go to EPU and have the nurse write on your hand how many eggs they have collected you will be very thrilled. Good luck and keep us posted on how you go.

Kahlan

Hi Miss Magpie,

First of all, welcome to Belly Belly!

Sounds like you and I will be going through the cycle together - I take my trigger shot tonight!

I understand about the anxiety - I've had similar issues too. The only thing I found that helped was to tell myself logically how irrational these thoughts really were.

Belly Belly is a great network - have a look around the site, particularly the sections on endo and LTTTC you may find some people that may have dealt with your specific issues.

Thanks Kahlan and Gargy.

Im glad 6 follies is a good number!

My partner is very private person and does find it hard to talk about his emotions. Im just finding it hard to find someone to confide in and to explain how I am feeling. Work and particularly my boss arent giving me any support which makes it hard considering that the bulk of my day is spent there. I gave him the IVF brochure for employers but he still hasnt said anything.

I have had a quick look at some other posts and found them helpful. Thanks for the advice.

Keep me posted Gargy how your cycle goes. Good to know that someone is doing the same as me right now!

Tania

Hi and welcome.

I can't really answer your question as we go down that path next Friday and Monday (fingers crossed).

I wish you well - considering you only have one tube I would say 6 is pretty good?

Good luck - this is a great place. I like you have trouble trying to talk to people who understand!

MissMagpie - 6 sounds really good to me. I had 12 collected (over 2 ovaries), so you are pretty much tracking where I did.

I didn't really do anything in my Stim cycle to help relax myself and cope - in hindsight I should have as I don't think I realised quite how stressed I was. In my FET (frozen embryo transfer) I included acupuncture into my cycle. I found it a great way of relaxing me and I coped so much better in that cycle (although a FET cycle is less stressful than a stim). Not sure if you have thought about acupuncture, but there has been research done on how if can also help improve pregnancy rates in IVF cycles.

Not sure how much it had to do with it, but the cycle I included acupuncture is the cycle I fell pregnant on... so for me it is amazing.

Also, I am the one with the primary fertility problems in our relationship and I understand that feeling of guilt. Talk to your partner about it - I'm sure that he will reassure you that it is not your fault. None of us asked for this, it is just the burden that we have to bear.

I wish you all the very best of luck in getting your longed for BFP.

Janie xxx

Good luck for next week Kasam. From what Janie has said, it does sound like 6 is a good number!

I have looked at a brochure about acupuncture Janie and was thinking of considering it. After hearing about your success, I think I will seriously look into it now. Will see how my 1st cycle goes then go from there.

Im patiently sitting here waiting for a phone call from the nurse to tell me when to take my trigger injection tonight and details of egg collection.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and advice. It has been really helpful and is much appreciated.

hoping it all goes well. only advice i have is to relax after epu. i just did too much and got sick. and wasn't good. come and join us in lttc thread for oct/ nov. good luck

Thanks JBM, just reading through that thread now and has lots of information.

It saddens me to read others stories of struggle and only hits home even more what possibly lies ahead for me. Ive struggled emotionally with my first cylce to date as the anticipation is agonising. And like many others, trying to put on a brave face when around other pregnant people is very hard.

Im glad Ive found this site and forum. Have found it very helpful with lots of nice people responding already.

Thanks again.

Tania